A courtroom in Argentina has ordered a nationwide block of the main crypto-based prediction market platform Polymarket over unauthorized playing.
Argentina’s nationwide communications and media regulator, Ente Nacional de Comunicaciones (ENACOM), obtained a courtroom order to dam entry to the Polymarket web site and its variants throughout the nation, in accordance to a ruling dated March 11.
The order was issued by the Buenos Aires Court docket of First Occasion in Felony, Contravention and Minor Offenses No. 31, which is investigating Polymarket below Argentina’s Felony Code for allegedly providing playing providers with out authorization.
The decide requested ENACOM to hold out the measure both straight or by means of web service suppliers (ISPs) and to promptly inform the courtroom or the specialised playing prosecutor’s workplace if technical or different obstacles stop full compliance.
Buenos Aires regulator initiated the case
In accordance to native media stories, the case was introduced by the Buenos Aires Metropolis Lottery (LOTBA), the state-owned firm that regulates playing actions within the metropolis.
After receiving a criticism from LOTBA about Polymarket’s alleged operation with out authorization, prosecutor Juan Rozas, in command of the Metropolis’s Specialised Gaming Prosecutor’s Workplace (FEJA), opened the investigation that led to the courtroom order.
Authorities argued that Polymarket allowed customers to position bets with out adequate id and age verification, elevating issues that minors may entry the platform.
“In observe, this meant that anybody — together with youngsters and adolescents — may entry and begin betting with none management,” the authorities reportedly mentioned.
Inflation bets deepen scrutiny
Along with instructing ENACOM to dam entry to Polymarket, the courtroom reportedly ordered Google and Apple to take away and limit the platform’s cellular functions on Android and iOS all through Argentina, together with for present customers.
Social media stories point out customers are discussing workarounds reminiscent of VPNs, whereas observers notice that the order comes from a Buenos Aires metropolis courtroom quite than the nationwide authorities.
The transfer provides to earlier scrutiny of Polymarket after its inflation-related prediction markets carefully mirrored official knowledge from Argentina’s statistics company, reigniting issues about potential insider buying and selling, in accordance to native stories.
Polymarket didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark from Cointelegraph.
Associated: CFTC chair backs blockchain-based prediction markets as ‘fact machines’
Argentina’s motion is the newest instance of strikes towards prediction markets globally, with international locations together with the Netherlands, Hungary, Portugal and Ukraine taking related steps to limit entry.
In Latin America, Colombia was among the many first to take motion, with its playing regulator reportedly warning of Polymarket’s unauthorized operations in September 2025.
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